Foundation for International Understanding (Wistifonden)

Wistifonden – Folmer Wisti Fonden for International Forståelse (the Foundation for International Understanding) is a Danish independent foundation founded in 1974 by the married couple Folmer Wisti (1908–2000) and Helle Wisti (1923–2015). The couple established the foundation with their own funds and made it their universal heir. Its purpose is to provide independent support for activities specified in its statutes, activities that are also an important part of the work of Det Danske Kulturinstitut (the Danish Cultural Institute), which Folmer Wisti initiated in 1940 under the name Det Danske Selskab (until 1989) and led as secretary-general until 1983. The foundation's stated aim is to contribute to international understanding and enlightenment, especially among popular circles, young people and in provincial areas, with societal culture as the central subject and reciprocity and openness as the basis and precondition. International understanding is seen as arising especially from free meetings between people across borders, open sharing of knowledge and exchange of culture in the broadest sense — that is, in relation to all social groups of the peoples concerned. The fundamental criteria are cooperation and reciprocity between people of all kinds, regardless of origin and current affiliation. International understanding is nourished by respect for human rights, democratic local governance and related values. Helle Wisti (born Ahlefeldt-Laurvig) was associated with the Cultural Institute from 1953 and married Folmer in 1955. She took over the leadership of the foundation's board in 1991 (until 2013), and it was under her leadership that the expansion of activities to post-communist Central and Eastern Europe — which had already begun before the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 — was continued after the dissolution of the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia. The foundation operates as a grant-making and support body rather than a commercial enterprise, but it is a registered, trademarked-style named foundation with its own identity, website and governance. Its work is closely tied to Danish cultural diplomacy and civil-society exchange, and it remains active under the Wistifonden name.

The Foundation for International Understanding was established in 1974 by Folmer Wisti (1908–2000) and Helle Wisti (1923–2015), who created it with their own funds and made it their universal heir. Its purpose was to provide independent support for activities specified in its statutes, activities that were also an important part of the work of Det Danske Kulturinstitut (the Danish Cultural Institute). Folmer Wisti had initiated the Cultural Institute in 1940 under the name Det Danske Selskab (until 1989) and served as its secretary-general until 1983. Helle Wisti (born Ahlefeldt-Laurvig) was associated with the Cultural Institute from 1953 and married Folmer in 1955. She took over the leadership of the foundation's board in 1991 and chaired it until 2013. Under her leadership, the foundation's expansion of activities to post-communist Central and Eastern Europe — which had already begun before the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 — was continued after the dissolution of the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia. The foundation's statutes define its purpose as contributing to international understanding and enlightenment, especially among popular circles, young people and in provincial areas, with societal culture as the central subject and reciprocity and openness as the basis and precondition. International understanding is understood to arise especially from free meetings between people across borders, open sharing of knowledge and exchange of culture in the broadest sense, in relation to all social groups of the peoples concerned. The fundamental criteria are cooperation and reciprocity between people of all kinds, regardless of origin and current affiliation. International understanding is nourished by respect for human rights, democratic local governance and related values. The foundation remains active and is known as Wistifonden, with its own website at wistifonden.dk.

• 2013

  Helle Wisti ends her chairmanship of the foundation's board.

• 1991

  Helle Wisti takes over leadership of the foundation's board (until 2013).

• 1989

  Det Danske Selskab is renamed Det Danske Kulturinstitut; expansion of foundation activities to Central and Eastern Europe had already begun before the fall of the Berlin Wall.

• 1974

  Folmer and Helle Wisti establish the Foundation for International Understanding with their own funds and make it their universal heir.

• 1955

  Helle Wisti marries Folmer Wisti.

• 1953

  Helle Wisti (born Ahlefeldt-Laurvig) becomes associated with the Cultural Institute.

• 1940

  Folmer Wisti initiates Det Danske Selskab (later Det Danske Kulturinstitut), which he leads as secretary-general until 1983.

Independent Danish foundation promoting international understanding through free cross-border meetings, knowledge sharing and cultural exchange, with a focus on popular circles, youth and provincial areas.

Product categories. Grants and support for international understanding activities · Cultural exchange programs · Support for Danish Cultural Institute activities

1. 1Wistifonden – For frie møder over grænserwistifonden.dk
2. 2Foundation for International Understandingwikidata.org